Note: Yesterday Fred Phelps, the infamous leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, announced that his group would disrupt Elizabeth Edwards' funeral tomorrow in Raleigh. At the very least Mrs. Edwards is in good company: Phelps has previously picketed the funerals of Coretta Scott King, Fred Rogers, and even Jerry Falwell. [Here's a Q&A from my site GayManners.com that I've previously answered about Phelps and the Westboro Baptist Church.]
Q: Every so often I read of a military funeral that has been picketed or disrupted by the Westboro Baptist Church, whose main web site is GodHatesFags.com. I feel terrible for these families who not only have suffered a major loss, but must also deal with these kinds of protests on top of it. What can be done? Is this beyond manners?
A: First of all, a little background. The Westboro Baptist Church is infamous for its anti-LGBT protests and claims that most of the calamities affecting our country (both natural disasters and terrorist attacks) are God's punishment for a society that tolerates homosexuality. Led by the disbarred lawyer, Fred Phelps, the group usually protests at high-profile events like military funerals and gay pride parades, claiming more than 43,000 protests to date "opposing the fag lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth." Phelps claims that the First Amendment protects his actions and speech and recent court decisions have supported that view.
To your question, indeed, much of what can be done in instances like these is beyond manners and in the realm of law. In 2006, a federal law, the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act was enacted, banning protests within 300 feet of national cemeteries, from an hour before a funeral to an hour after it. Violators face fines up to $100,000. This act is also currently subject to further court review.
Otherwise, do not engage with them at all since the protestors seek to disrupt painful, private events, like these military funerals, and want to create havoc, yelling, and screaming back and forth that will capture local news crews. If family members see that their particular funeral is being targeted for protest (Westboro's very sophisticated site publicizes all protests), they can contact the Patriot Guard Riders, a group of motorcyclists that will provide a non-violent buffer between the mourners and the protestors. Otherwise, the best that can be done is to instruct ushers and staff to hold up sheets to visibly shield the family from the protestors. And, take solace in the fact the God Hates Fags protestors have also targeted the funerals of such notables as Coretta Scott King, Fred Rogers and even Jerry Falwell. [And now Elizabeth Edwards.]
Follow Steven Petrow on Twitter: www.twitter.com/gaymanners
Anu Kumar: Honoring Elizabeth Edwards: Standing With Women and Families
Video…Mission Accomplished At Ms Edwards Funeral
http://randysright.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/video-mission-accomplished-at-ms-edwards-funeral/
http://randysright.wordpress.com/2010/12/11/video-mission-accomplished-at-ms-edwards-funeral/
Americans should do what the small towns have been doing, lining the streets with citizens blocking these evil people and their signs, to shield families broken in grief.
No violence, no words exchanged - did the job and oorah to the bikers.
May this gracious lady be laid to rest with the dignity with which she lived. RIP Elizabeth, with deepest condolences to your family and friends.
Reaching out to my fellow Christians (alongside those who are not) from all over North Carolina, to pay their respects by getting out their own posters and markers tonight... Angels' wings would be great, too. Anything large to shield her children, with a loud, continuous song to drown out the hate, on behalf of all of us who are too far to help. Elizabeth is at peace. Her family is not. Those who can must support and shield them in their time of need. I wish I could be with you.
After tomorrow, we all should be demanding that the IRS yank their tax-exempt status, and that the Supreme Court uphold the $6m verdict against them for protesting a soldier's funeral. No more money= no more WBC. That's the only way to really stop them.
Please repost...
I know of one such place that would serve this purpose - The Cuckoo's Nest.
with apologies to the author.